175 In Salisbury To 'Go For It'

June 14, 1985|The Morning Call

With tassels turning and feet stomping, 175 Salisbury High School seniors graduated last night after being told by classmate Michele A. Stafiniak to "go for it."

Stafiniak, who will attend Villanova University in the fall, told students to examine their strengths, realize their goals and "know that you possess the ability to succeed no matter what you do. . . If you can imagine it, you can achieve it."

Success, she said, comes through self confidence, self control, self esteem and self respect. "The feeling of knowing what you want to be is the greatest success of all. . . Go for it," said Stafiniak to booming applause.

The 21st commencement was held in the Salisbury Middle School auditorium. "After four years of struggling through high school here we are back in middle school," said Class president Jeffrey T. Stevens, who introduced the speakers.

"For a relatively small school, Salisbury never acted in a small way. We were always a class with class. We left a definite mark on the high school," said Stevens, citing the school achievements both academically and in sports.

School Superintendent Dr. F. Laird Evans said, "We hope more than anything else that you have learned to learn . . . I know you're eager to get on with it." Over 75 percent of the graduating class will pursue some form of continued education. Over 50 percent will attend colleges and universities.

Class speaker Donald B. Allen told his classmates they must set goals for themselves just as the country set goals for itself. He said America is built on the freedom and opportunities of thousands of immigrants who came to the country to succeed. This is evident, he said, in America's competitive nature with other countries in economics and other areas.

"When we leave here tonight we will enter the competitive race, and I believe we'll finish well," said Allen. Borrowing from Thomas Jefferson, Allen said, "Have faith and go forward."